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New CH.com Forum › Cluster Headache Help and Support › Medications, Treatments, Therapies › I wonder....

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I wonder.... (Read 1147 times)

Lacey

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I Love CH.com!

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Tennessee
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I wonder....
Dec 20^th, 2009 at 9:46am

Although no 1 here claims to be a Dr (not that I've seen anyway), the information available here is priceless. I did see a HA specialist years ago, and of course tried the drugs of the moment for ch only AFTER the meds for migraines. I have seen a few neurologists, did the tests they suggested..and of course back to the drugs. I am truely amazed at way you have to "educate" MOST Dr's about this disability. I do realize that this is not a common problem, but from this website, there seems to be a LOT of us out there. I do wonder why the hell no Dr. has ever suggested trying Melatonin? I wonder why no Dr. ever suggested to me that O2 at 15lpm? I wonder why no Dr. ever told me about halving or even thirding my trex injections? What I wonder most about, is the fact that WE AS PATIENTS, have to suggest our own treatment to the biggest portion of the Dr's we see, and then PAY THEM for their time, diagnosis and treatment. And then, if that is not enough to put you into a full blown k10, we turn around to deal with the insurance companies that says, oh, well we are only going to pay for 8 trex injections this month because that's all you NEED. WTF?!?! Our own Dr's don't seem to know what we NEED without guidance, let alone the insurance companies that TRY to practice medicine. Sure they have Dr's that sit on the advisory boards, but when they change a RX (1 for quantity of 20 to 1 for a quantity of 8) without a physical, sure seems like malpractice to me. Anyway.....to end this rant, I just want to say THANK YOU! To all of you that's put in the hours of research and compiled the information, in order for the rest of us to arm ourselves against the army of ch idiots.

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Bob Johnson

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"Only the educated are
free." -Epictetus

Posts: 5965
Kennett Square, PA (USA)
Gender: male

Re: I wonder....
Reply #1 - Dec 20^th, 2009 at 10:34am

Medical education in headache
Posted 9/26/07, MEDSCAPE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Abstract statements from a study of headache education in medical programs. Second para. specific to neurological residency training. Gives good idea of why it's difficult to find a sharp doc.
=========================
"Objective. To explore the extent of headache education received by medical students and residents.
Background. Headache is a common, often severe, and sometimes disabling problem. However, 49% of sufferers do not seek professional treatment -- of those who do, only 28% are very satisfied. One possible reason is limited education of physicians about headache.
Methods. Surveys were sent to all allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, 200 family medicine residencies, and all 126 neurology residencies. Information requested included the amount and perceived adequacy of headache education and any plans to increase headache education.
Results. Response rates were 35% to 40%. MEDICAL SCHOOL LECTURE HOURS RANGED FROM 0 (4%) TO >5 (24%) WITH 92% HAVING NO PLANS FOR AN INCREASE IN HEADACHE EDUCATION. FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY LECTURE HOURS RANGED FROM 1-3 (30%) TO >5 (34%) AND CASE PRESENTATIONS FROM 1-5 (23%) TO >5 (41%), WITH 88% OF PROGRAM DIRECTORS HAVING NO PLANS FOR INCREASE. NEUROLOGY RESIDENCY LECTURE HOURS RANGED FROM 1-3 (11%) TO >5 (64%) AND CASE PRESENTATIONS FROM 1-5 (23%) TO >10 (57%), WITH 80% HAVING NO PLANS FOR INCREASE.
Conclusion. Undergraduate medical education in headache is limited. Despite medical schools perceiving their training as adequate, both neurology and family practice residency program directors believe entering residents are inadequately prepared in headache upon entering the program."

"Neurology Residency Programs
Neurology residency program lecture hours varied from 1 to 3 hours (11%) to >5 hours (64%) (Figure 2). The number of case presentations ranged from 1-5 (23%) to >10 (57%) (Figure 6). Forty-two (95%) of program directors believed that their headache education was adequate (Figure 4). Interestingly, 20% of neurology programs indicated plans to increase training in headache management. Similar to the family practice programs, 68% of the program directors believed that new residents had inadequate knowledge about headaches upon entering the program while only 11% of the program directors believed that their residents were well informed about headache."
===============

Re. health insurance companies: A friend of mine often says, "It's easy to make money saying, 'NO!'"

Bob Johnson

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Joni

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Re: I wonder....
Reply #2 - Dec 20^th, 2009 at 1:26pm

From personal experience over the years, I have found that doctors are only as good as the knowledge and information that you give them. They are not miracle workers and can not know about every specific problem, especially rare ones. That's why doctors and pharmacists carry those big thick books! I think of doctors as my partner in figuring out what is wrong with me. We both have valuable information and knowledge to put together in order to figure out the problem, and hopefully the solution. Sometimes you don't have the right doctor, sometimes you don't give enough or the correct information, sometimes it is a very difficult situation, sometimes there is no answer. I have seen them all.

I have been a care giver for my mother with ovarian cancer for 3 years, my husband with rectal cancer and complications for 12 years, and my brother with addiction for 20 years intermittently just to name a few. We have experienced much in that time with doctors and hospitals and I have learned a lot as well. I still believe that most medical personnel are there to help even though it doesn't always work out the way we wish. And I say this even when I have some stories that are devastating and heart breaking.

It is easy to blame them when we are desperate...I do understand. I just caution you not to bite the hand that feeds you. You need them and it would be best to find a way to work with them in order to get good care.

Good luck!!
Joni

Experience: That most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn. -C. S. Lewis

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Potter CH.com Alumnus Offline Team MOOSE DROOL Stinky Stuff on a Hook Prostaff Posts: 3600 Blgs.Mt. Gender:	Re: I wonder.... Reply #3 - Dec 20^th, 2009 at 1:35pm My Neurologist Dr. Richard A. Nelson listened to me when I described my symptoms and prescribed oxygen first and foremost. This was in 1983. The man just rocks. He has never charged me one dime. Potter
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Sandy_C

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There is no such thing
as a stupid question.

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Jamestown, NC
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Re: I wonder....
Reply #4 - Dec 20^th, 2009 at 4:04pm

I read somewhere, can't remember, but will try to find it again, that in med school, residency, even specialists like neuros, were given on average about 15 minutes of education on CH. They got a lot more on migraines, tension, sinus, all the other headaches, but only 15 on CH.

If this is true, it's no wonder that CH sufferers have so much difficulty in finding a doctor who know how to treat us. We have to educate them.

Sandy

Lean on me, when you're not strong, cause we all need somebody to lean on.

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Tamara

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Can you find where I left
my head???

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Orlando, Fl
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Re: I wonder....
Reply #5 - Dec 20^th, 2009 at 4:11pm

Amen to that. I have found more help from this web site then the Doctors. Oh but they get upset with you when you tell them some of the treatments that help. Me for one I use Red Bull . My doctor advised me not to . Cause I'm on Heart pills. Well I have heart trouble because of the CH's . That alone takes a toll on your body. Enjoyed your sound off.

Glad your here !!~

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Joni

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Knowledge is Power

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Re: I wonder....
Reply #6 - Dec 20^th, 2009 at 4:26pm

Sandy_C wrote on Dec 20^th, 2009 at 4:04pm:

You are correct....they can not spend days or weeks on every disease, ailment, syndrome or condition known to man. But they do spend much time on the many functions of the body systems in general and that is no small task. Medicine and science topics are never ending and it is impossible to know all of it and keep up with the changes. They do their best, some better than others, like in any profession.

If a doctor does not have any patients with cluster headaches, then they will not know much about them. If they get a patient with clusters, then they should learn about them, but that may or may not happen. You have to move on to one who does or will. I have had it both ways.

Experience: That most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn. -C. S. Lewis

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